Greg Oden charged with felony battery

<p>NBA center Greg Oden is now facing felony battery charges following a recent arrest for allegedly punching his former girlfriend.</p>

Indianapolis, IN (SportsNetwork.com) - NBA center Greg Oden is now facing felony battery charges following a recent arrest for allegedly punching his former girlfriend.

Prosecutors in Marion County, Indiana Superior Court added a Felony 5 charge of battery resulting in serious bodily injury to two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery and battery resulting in bodily injury in regards to the case. Oden was taken into custody by police in the Indianapolis suburb of Lawrence early Thursday morning after being accused of striking Christina Green.

According to police reports, officers were called to the home of Oden's mother on Thursday and saw Green lying on a sofa with blood on her face and swelling and cuts to her nose. Green at first told investigators she fell and did not discuss the matter further, but a friend said that Oden had punched her.

Green received a broken nose as a result of the alleged altercation as well as three stitches to her face.

The report also stated that Oden acknowledged to police that he hit Green, saying: "Things got out of control, and I started to go after Christina. My mother and [her friend] tried to hold me back, but I swung my arms to move them out of the way and then punched Christina in the face. I was wrong, and I know what has to happen."

Green later told police that she, Oden and her friend were at a club prior to the incident and that the 7-footer had been drinking alcohol.

Oden, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2007 NBA Draft, is currently a free agent after spending last season as a member of the Miami Heat. The Indianapolis native had missed the previous three seasons due to chronic knee injuries before joining the defending Eastern Conference champions.

The 26-year-old appeared in 23 games with six starts for Miami, averaging 2.9 points, 2.3 rebounds and 0.6 blocks.

Oden starred at Indianapolis' Lawrence North High School before playing one season at Ohio State, where he helped the Buckeyes reach the title game of the 2007 NCAA Tournament.